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Live Reporting
Written by Ben Collins, Sarah Rendell, Alex Brotherton & Melissa
Andy Robertson
With Milos Kerkez about to step through the door at Anfield, questions about Andy Robertson’s future at Liverpool persist: will he be the back-up for the young Hungarian or will his career take him to Spain with Atletico Madrid?
The 31-year-old Scot has one year left on his contract with the Reds and has caught the eye of Atletico head coach Diego Simeone, who is in the market for an experienced left-back. Following the initial story of the La Liga side’s interest over a week ago, however, not much else has happened since.
With Atletico now out of the Club World Cup, will a move for Robertson, who is a two-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner, start to pick up a bit more
Kerkez appears the
Milos Kerkez
Image source,Getty Images
In terms of how Liverpool play football, Milos Kerkez appears the perfect full-back.
The 21-year-old recovered the ball 169 times last season – the fifth-most of any defender in the Premier League and more than any Liverpool defender. He also won the ball in Bournemouth’s attacking third 11 times – the ninth most of defenders in the division and again more than any of his potential future Reds team-mates.
In a Bournemouth team that eventually finished ninth, the Hungary international created 34 chances from open play – the seventh most by a defender – and registered five assists which placed him joint-fourth in that ranking.
In terms of ball progression, Kerkez passed into the final third 476 times – the 10th most times of any Premier League defender – behind the Reds’ two first choice full-backs last season. No Liverpool defender completed more dribbles than his 22.
How do Kerkez and Robertson compare
Milos Kerkez and Andy Robertson stats
Milos Kerkez is expected to be first choice as Liverpool’s left-back next season when his move goes through and contrasting his numbers with the long-serving Andy Robertson, who the 21-year-old could effectively replace, perhaps shows why.
The Hungary international started every Premier League game this season (which in part helps boosts his numbers) but the fact that Robertson failed to start nine games, and produced just one assist, may suggest that the latter’s influence is beginning to wane as he struggled to return to full fitness in this campaign following injury problems last season.
Uncharacteristically, Robertson also significantly underperformed the assists he would have been expected to provide.
Kerkez, on the other hand, outperformed his expected assists by some margin, whilst providing double the amount of overlaps and 35% more crosses from open play.
Robertson, who has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, has been a wonderful servant for the Reds. The 31-year-old has won two league titles and the 2019 Champions League across nine years at Anfield, but it may simply be a case that younger legs are needed to perform the demands of Arne Slot’s system.
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What would Kerkez bring to Liverpool?
published at 12:51 British Summer Time
12:51 BST
Edu Rubio
Former West Ham and Wolves first-team coach
Milos Kerkez is a fantastic and much needed addition to Liverpool’s squad. He is versatile; he can play LB, LWB and even LCB.
He has got great potential to grow even further on; yet Andy Robertson still has better offensive stats than him. Maybe because of the context/teams etc; but his numbers show his attacking input is remarkably good.
Now, Kerkez’s solid defensive stats and his physical aptitude can offer Arne Slot a different option down the left flank. They are both excellent full-backs, but they are both different and unique.
Milos interceptions and clearances stats show he can make Liverpool even more difficult to break. Offensively his ball progressive carrier is very good; which can help his team penetrate into the opposition’s half faster, aggressively and efficiently. This can support Liverpool’s offensive game too, no doubt.
LIVERPOOL10 months ago